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What is the Typical markup on putting together a set of Irons. Say if the materials cost $400 what should be a reasonable final price.

That depends on the type of shafts, graphite or steel, and what you want done. Do you want to have the shafts SST Pured or at least spline aligned? Do you want them custom fit? Do you need to have the lie angles adjusted? Prices will vary from city to city, but figure on at least $10 per club for just installing the shafts and grips. More if you want them spline aligned and lie adjusted.

Full fitting with lie and loft adjustments and put together the set. I got a quote of $850 so thats 400 for materials and $450 to get fit adjust lie and put together. Does that sound right???? (No spine align or puring of the shafts)

That is totally crazy to pay that much for their knowledge. BWeitzel is right with his "Face"

Bluenoser67: I agree with the other two guys, that's way out of line. For what you're getting, I'd say $20 a club would be more like it. Eight irons would cost you $160, not $450. I recommend you try some where else. The term "RIP OFF", comes to mind for the guys you're talking to.

2 things dictate price usually. The manufacturer and or the dealer. There are 2 common prices called MAP (Minimum advertised price) & MSRP we all know that one. Dealers can sell lower but risk losing thier account with that company. Everybody wants things cheaper these days and not willing to pay. Shop owners are business people too. They pay rent, lights insurance, taxes etc. Why don't they deserve a fair profit? What are you paying for a gallon of gas?????

I couldn't agree more with that statement. Customers do forget that the business overhead is part of the club(s) sell price and that has to be covered, or the business does not exist, it's that simple. I also think that competition dictates market pricing, all things being equal. If other club builders are offering the same head, shaft, grip, and the method(s) to which they are being fitted/assembled, and they both have similar overhead, they should be at least close in sell price. Like most gas stations are at least close in gas pricing. I charge more than a garage cut & glue guy because I've invested a lot of time and money into earning my "Class A" certification with the PCS (as many others have). Notice I said earned, you cannot buy it. I sincerely believe that has value. You have to prove to your club building peers that you have a certain amount of knowledge and ability. There are PCS builders that I am sure are much better than others, but I think PCS adds credilbilty to the builder, a sort of unofficial assurance policy.

I also know that I have to be at least "competitive", not the cheapest, just competitive with other businesses. (I do not want to be the cheapest, I think it makes me look, CHEAP)

In this case, I don't think it is competitive, not even close. One Putt said RIP OFF, ****unless this builder is doing something that the rest of us is not. JMHO

I have to agree with you also on the ends of adding what we have to pay monthly to the cost of equipment and paying for my expertise/equipment to fit...... but I think their is a fine line of helping a guy and making a profit (with a good heart) and flat out taking advantage of someone because you are a good salesman. I can't stand someone that looks at people like dallor bills and goes out and sells with that mindset, with the price this guy quoted that is exactly what he is seeing.

OK things are starting to look up I got another price quote for $690 total. SO that would be 400 materials 290 club maker. Although does anyone know what the canadian duties are on 400 dollars worth of clubs that come from the states. (Getting the materials at Golfsmith in US and shipping to Canada) I have the materials at $400 Canadian and the shipping is free but not sure of the Canadian duties(maybe thats the extra cost)

I've shipped a lot of clubs to Canada and the buyer has usually requested they be labeled as gifts on the form. I think that eliminates the heavy duties.

Thats a little high, but as long as its quality work the price aint bad if you think about it. If you purchase a set of callaways, their costs are way below $400 and people still pay over $1000 for a set. There was a custom guy here that had his name stamped on the irons and he charged $1300 to a guy in our group. The shafts were apollo steel and the static and swingweights were all over the place... a con artist, that should be arrested in my book.

[quote=AGoodWalkSpoiledAgain. There was a custom guy here that had his name stamped on the irons and he charged $1300 to a guy in our group. The shafts were apollo steel and the static and swingweights were all over the place... a con artist, that should be arrested in my book.[/QUOTE]

It's guys like that that can give other club builders a bad name.

OK final entry I got the materials myself paid the $400 and the clubmaker I ended up with will put them together for $10 a piece a far (so $80 instead of $450 for the club fitting) the other guy is either stupid or a crook either way not someone I wont to deal with. Thanks for all your advice on the issue it was a great help.

Bluenoser,

I wrote this a little while back, and perhaps it might help some folks to understand clubmaking differently, or perhaps shed a different light on the topic.
Mike




Clubmakers or Clubfitters in this day and age are thinking way, WAY too small. They are so focused on the PRODUCT that they THINK they are selling, and somehow have come to believe that the PRODUCT they are selling is a golf club...... They are ABSOLUTELY WRONG!


I live and work here in a rural, country town, and there is a cute little mom-n-pop ice cream shop... they hold cruise nights and little league teams frequent this place after a "big win". While I personally hate ice cream.. I enjoy going here because it is a slice of Americana, one that is vanishing rapidly. It is also a place where everyone in town goes because the ice cream is good, and the atmosphere, friendly.

Inside this ICE CREAM stand is a gumball machine.... one that really stands out... it is probably 6 feet tall, has a glass front that shows the inner workings... it has yards of rails inside and is brightly lit. I often wondered why.... an ICE CREAM stand would offer gumballs. Heck, nobody comes here for gumballs, they come here for ice cream.

Gumballs in this machine are 25 cents. I have noticed that while the adults are ordering the family treats, the kids are pumping quarters into this machine. The quarter goes in, the circus like music starts to play loud, the lights flash up and down, bells and whistles blare , and a big ole' gumball shoots out like a pinball machine......... up and down, around and around... music playing, lights flashing, kids start laughing and congregating around the glass machine. a full 15 seconds later ( oddly I timed it ) the gumball comes to rest at the bottom with a loud "TINK" against the one feature that has never changed from the time of all of our childhoods... the little metal door at the bottom.

Sometimes I noticed that the kids actually forgot to even open the little metal door for their treat. And have to be reminded by another child that was drawn like a moth to a flame at the sight and sound of the lucky kid who got to try out the fancy gumball machine.

For it was not the "GUMBALL" that they wanted... What they wanted and paid for was the "SHOW" !!


Now there is plenty of competition from other gumball machines in town, but this one stands out as you might expect. It surely is one that I have heard kids talk about.... yet I never here them talk about the "regular" or "old fashioned" gumball machines...

It is the same for the "competition" that is perceived by clubmaker or clubfitters across the entire country.

While there might not be one close to your operation or even one that advertises locally, the advent of the internet has surely made the world a smaller place. EVERYONE of you is much more accessible now, seemingly making it more difficult in the eyes of the clubmaker or clubfitter who thinks SMALL. Who thinks that conducting their business is getting more difficult.

Clubmakers today are thinking that people are coming to them for a product....

I contend, like the gumball machine, they come for the SERVICE for the SHOW, There just happens to be a golf club that is produced at the end of the "show.

A clubmaker or clubfitter meets the customer... they smile, shake hands, and the clubmaker might even hold the bag for the player as he or she ties their shoes. They walk together to the range , talking pleasantly about the weather or perhaps how their day was. They might exchange business cards or even talk about a recent round of golf at a course that they both are familiar with. More small talk as the player stretches or loosens up with a few wedge shots.... More smiles and stories come out... the clubmaker "feels out" the potential customer as to likes and dislikes of theirs, or even their current equipment that the clubmaker is hoping to get the chance to change out for the player. For nothing is "guaranteed" at this outing.

Perhaps a launch monitor is plugged in or a big bag of demo clubs is spread out and the fitting begins... but either way, the "experience" continues!

For when the player is out with their new driver, playing in their familiar group, or perhaps paired up with another threesome.... the talk comes down to his "new club"....... there really is not as much talk as you would think about the BRAND or model of the club.....Perhaps more is even said of the shaft in it... color combinations... flex.......

"Hey, you are hitting it pretty well, can I try that on the next tee" one guy says.
"Sure"

The ball is struck, the sound is heard, the feel registers in the players mind, an immediate comparison is made in their own mind between this guys driver and their own equipment... his question IIMMEDIATELY goes away from the BRAND of head and shaft to one of.......

"Where did you get this thing"???

The response is ALSO, NOT about the head or the shaft.... but it goes to the clubmaker/clubfitter.....

"I got it from that guy down on Main street.... you know the one next to the barber shop"? As they walk down the fairway, they continue... "It was great. he spent two hours with me... we hit hundreds of balls, he is a smart guy, sure took his time with me". "You should check him out sometime".

The "PRODUCT" is the service that is provided that day on the range, the one on one meeting between the clubmaker and the consumer. The handshake, the smile, perhaps even something as crazy as the weather that day.

I say... as clubmakers or clubfitters or resellers or BUSINESS PEOPLE... we are "selling" ourselves. Our knowledge, our experience our attitudes... and even though there could be 5 other guys that CARRY the same BRAND.......... they ARE NOT our "competition". For they do not offer the same experience as we do.

When the warranty of the club is expressed, when the last handshake is done and the check is written......... like the child in the ice cream shop here is town.... the "TINK" that we hear, just so happens to be a golf club, don't forget to open the little steel door and take it with you.

Rest assured...... when the story of the day is told and retold... EVERY SINGLE TIME someone hits the new club that you made for them....... The "TINK" will not even be mentioned.


The recognition and the glory is yours for the taking... it is up to YOU, NOT The product!


Reach out and get it.

Mike